Devils lose at home to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 5-2

ALBANY — There was no third-period magic tonight for the Albany Devils, whose playoff chances took a severe hit with a 5-2 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in front of 3,998 at Times Union Center.

The Devils, who deployed two-goal third periods in each of their past two victories, couldn’t overturn a 3-2 deficit the faced heading into the third. The Penguins took control with a power-play goal 55 seconds into the third.

Albany began the night in 11th place, two points behind eighth-place Manchester and three in back of seventh-place Syracuse for the Eastern Conference’s final two playoff berths.

Wilkes-Barre blew a 2-0 lead, built on a pair of Alex Grant goals, before Paul Thompson put the Penguins ahead to stay with 5½ minutes to play in the second. Robert Bartuzzo set up the play, skating the puck deep into the Devils zone and feeding Thompson with a drop pass.

The Pens extended their lead early in the third on a power play that began at the end of the second. With Tim Sestito in the penalty box for interference, Ryan Craig jammed the puck in after Albany goaltender Keith Kinkaid thought he had it covered.

Nick Peterson added an empty-net goal with 1:55 to play.

Mike Hoeffel and Matt Taormina scored 5½ minutes apart in the second period for Albany.

Hoeffel received Joe Whitney’s drop pass and rifled a shot past goalie Brad Thiessen, who returned Thursday after a long stint with Pittsburgh. Three of Hoeffel’s five goals have come against Wilkes-Barre.

Taormina tied the game on a wrist shot from the right point that went between the legs of Penguins center Zach Sill. For Taormina, who was sent down Friday by New Jersey, it was his first AHL goal since Jan. 27. Half Taormina’s six goals this season have come on the power play.

Whitney had two assists to take over the Devils’ team scoring lead with 42.